The history of forklifts and their evolution over time is a majorly interesting and well-developed topic. The evolution of the forklift, especially in relation to other types of mechanized machines, is a complex subject that has developed over time. Montacargas para personas and their associated technology have evolved to match the needs that have arisen over time.
The History of Forklifts and Their Evolution Over Time
The history begins with the use of these machines, which were made and developed for specific uses in mind. The first forklifts were developed during the industrial revolutions and were used primarily to move material around the factories. Originally, the first forklift was simply called a ‘hand cart’.
Forklifts such as these are still used today in some situations to transport materials. The earliest models were also manually operated by the operator.
Balloon Type
The first major advancement in forklifts was the introduction of the balloon type, or as they are known today, ‘sheave lift’, systems. The system used, which is still common today, consisted of two overhead cranks and a sheave arranged into a heart shape. A chain was connected to the two cranks and then to the sheave which raised and lowered it. The cranks were connected by a belt which ran the length of the machine.
The sheave lift made it possible to raise and lower the load and be able to gain height control. The machines were relatively affordable and easy to use and maintain.
The main disadvantages of this solution however, was that it was very expensive for the time and required a skilled operator to operate them. Additionally, the system often malfunctioned and was very sensitive to speed.
The sheave lift system was introduced in the U.S. around 1913 by the H-E-B Company and then later widely adopted by other companies. More than any other type of forklift, the sheave lift is still used today, with some exceptions.
Oil Powered
In 1916, a machine was developed that overcame many of these disadvantages. The machine was introduced that used an engine and ran on oil instead of steam. This machine was equipped with a clutch, brake, shifter as well as reverser. The diesel engine allowed these machines to be faster and more powerful than any of the previous models by a wide margin.
The new system operated on an electric clutch which slowed the engine and allowed the operator to control the speed of the forklift. By being controllable, the forklift became more safe at higher speeds than it had been previously. The clutch also allowed the operator to quickly stop the forklift.
The engine was an air cooled diesel engine that used a fuel tank instead of a boiler and allowed the machine to travel further distances without needing to refuel.
The disadvantage of this type of machine was that the oil would often leak onto the truck and make maintenance much harder than it had been previously. The machine also required a great deal more skill for operation than previous versions and therefore could not be operated by anyone.
